Carver ZR Hook Up's

Zero · « **on:** 29 Sep 2003, 04:28 am »

Gentlemen,

Forgive me for starting this thread. I would simply like to create a thread which may focus on answering questions related to hooking up these Carver ZR digital amp's, vice having to sift through the seemingly endless pages. My apologies - Im both ignorant and lazy! heh

I am incredibly interested in this new technology and have seen a few ways to hook it up. Let me see if there is an easier way,

You take a cd player, analog, hook it up *rca* to a passive pre amp, which also boasts rca line in's and out's, and run it to the ZR1000 or ZR1600 which has RCA in's.

Boom, your done? Or am I just over-simplifying this?

Z

RussKon · « **Reply #1 on:** 29 Sep 2003, 08:47 am »

the zr1000 and zr1600 use a neutrik combo plug or euro blocks for inputs...

the combo plug will accept xlr, trs, or ts plugs.... to use rca's you need to use an adapter.... a 1/4" male ts plug to female rca adapter is about $1.50 at radioshack....

or you can hardwire your connection via the euro block connector

earlmarc · « **Reply #2 on:** 29 Sep 2003, 11:37 am »

Quote from: A6M-ZERO

Gentlemen,

Forgive me for starting this thread. I would simply like to create a thread which may focus on answering questions related to hooking up these Carver ZR digital amp's, vice having to sift through the seemingly endless pages. My apologies - Im both ignorant and lazy! heh

I am incredibly interested in this new technology and have seen a few ways to hook it up. Let me see if there is an easier way,

You take a cd player, analog, hook it up *rca* to a passive pre amp, which also boasts rca ...

The best way I found to make this connection is to order a RCA to male XLR 1/4 cable from cobaltcables.com. They make excellent cables for the pro audio business. The cables per pair are approximately $63.00 delivered.

RussKon · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 Sep 2003, 12:12 pm »

if you have cheap cables, then i agree....

if however you have some decent interconnects then use the adapters....

or cut one end off of your rca cable and wire it directly to the euro block input

8thnerve · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 Sep 2003, 02:16 pm »

The way we are recommending them is with a Neutrik female RCA to male XLR adaptor on the amp. This is very simple and adds about $30 to the cost of the amp. For those with higher-end cables, we recommend the Ayre/Cardas RCA to XLR adaptor at $75 a pair. You are free to continue to swap cables to your heart's content with this setup.

Dmason · « **Reply #5 on:** 29 Sep 2003, 03:44 pm »

For those with balanced connections all round, NHT Pro makes a great little passive attenuator which is balanced I/O, yet also comes with a pair of adaptors. Matches the amp as well.

Channel Islands, Luminous Audio, DaCT, Goldpoint, all make very good quality passive devices. I chose the DaCT, hardwired into the amp, with the Bent Audio remote control retro fit, in my ZR1000.

Even the Nixon DACkit @ 1.6V output has enough juice to work well in this application. The amps have variable input sensitivity.

Zero · « **Reply #6 on:** 30 Sep 2003, 05:25 am »

Ok Gentlemen, let me pretend as if I own nothing but my Kimber Bi-wire's, and my Polk Audio LSi-15's...... other than those two items, the slate is clean.

First things first, lets begin with a good source. I've been eye-balling the the C.E.C 3300 cd player. It boasts xlr outputs and volume control, pretty much eliminating any need for a pre-amplifier in this case.. if I am assuming correctly:

http://www.audioadvisor.com/store/productdetail.asp?sku=CECCD3300&product_name=CEC%203300%20CD%20Player

Next, the wires themselves. I found these over at Signalcable:

http://signalcable.com/digitalbalanced.html

And the next logical step would be the amplifier, which I've yet to really determine... aiming for the ZR1000...

Now gentlemen, do I have this correct? Are these all the pieces I would need to get this rig going?

Dmason · « **Reply #7 on:** 30 Sep 2003, 06:05 am »

Yes, I think you have it. That would be a great little rig. As long as you dont make a conclusion on its sound before the first day....

I point out once again that digital amps are unlistenable for the first hours, open up after a day of full on use, and expand their harmonic resolving ability on to two months. Just read Scotty's thread about the Panasonic. Another work of art in the making, mirroring my own experience with that, the Sony, and the ZR1000. "Just like Christmas."

Indeed.

RussKon · « **Reply #8 on:** 1 Oct 2003, 02:18 am »

getting back on topic....

i have a ZR1000 on order...(expecting friday or monday)...

for my interconnects i took a 900 series phoenix gold cable and cut off one end and soldered on a neutrik gold plated xlr connector (nc3mx-b)...

i have the pefect interconnect as recommended by carver professional...

for a total less than $10...(not including my original phoenix gold cable)